Curacao

Papiamento (official) (a creole language that is a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, and, to a lesser extent, French, as well as elements of African languages and the language of the Arawak) 81.2%, Dutch (official) 8%, Spanish 4%, English (official) 2.9%, other 3.9% (2001 census)

Where is Curacao?

Located in the Caribbean, Curacao is an island nation. It has a 364.00 km coastline.

Willemstad, the capital of Curacao, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Sites due to its harbor entry and the unique architecture of the city. It is also home to the only surviving synagogue in the Americas called the Curacao synagogue.

Curacao is a North American country covering 444.00 km2. and about half the size of New York City. Its geographic coordinates are 12 10 N, 69 00 W and Willemstad is the capital city.

Curacao is said to have been derived from "Isla de la Curacion", Spanish for "Island of the Cure".

Its ISO code is CW.

Geography

Curacao has a mean elevation of 0 m above sea level.

It has a tropical marine climate that is affected by northeast trade winds. It generally has a low, hilly terrain.

Population

Curacao has a population of 149,035 making it the 187th largest in the world. The largest settlement on the island is the city of Willemstad.

Papiamento, Dutch, and English are official languages. The majority ethnic group is Afro-Caribbean. The majority of the population is Roman Catholic.

Residents of Curacao speak four main languages: Papiamentu, Spanish, Dutch, and English. The Papiamentu language is a multifaceted Creole language based on different languages of Dutch, Portuguese, Arawak Indian, French, Spanish, and several African dialects.

Government

It is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Its constitution was last ratified in 2010.

The government of Curacao runs within a monarchy, which is the Kingdom of Netherlands. As such, in as much as it is autonomous, some decisions are influenced by the king. Nevertheless, Curacao enjoys many other institutions of government like many other countries such as the legislature, executive, and the judiciary. They also hold elections regularly to elect leaders.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Curacao's GDP is $3,128,000,000.00 (USD) with $15,000.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 185th largest economy and its citizens the 104th richest in the world. The currency of Curacao is the Guilder (ANG).

Its major imports include crude petroleum, food, and manufactures.

Flag

Designed by Martin den Dulk, the Curacao flag is a true symbol of the people and their beliefs. The three colors on the flag are white, blue, and yellow. The flag is very simple, but fulfills the purpose of a flag. It is used for all official purposes in the country.